Emission and excitation spectra of Ce3+, Tb3+ and Gd3+ in lanthanum borophosphate and yttrium borophosphate are studied. The results show that Ce3+ emission weakens and Tb3+ emission enhances in La(BO3, PO4):Ce, Tb in the presence of Gd, and in Y(BO3, PO4):Ce, Tb, the Ce3+ and Tb3+ emissions are all enhanced, and the former increases more than the latter. In a whole, Gd3+ acts as intermediate of energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ and sensitizer in La(BO3, PO4):Ce, Tb, Gd; while in Y(BO3, PO4):Ce, Tb, Gd, Gd3+ acts only as sensitizer, and prevents energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+. Compared with Y(BO3, PO4):Ce, Tb, Gd, La(BO3, PO4):Ce, Tb, Gd, phosphor absorbs ultraviolet radiation easily, and emits green light with higher purity and intensity under 254 nm excitation, so it is more suitable for green-emitting phosphor in fluorescent lamp.